Just when you think you've heard everything, Pat Robertson and his
cohorts Ben Kinchlow and Terry Meeuwsen stoop to new lows while trying
to prove their point. This time was New Year's Day, when "The 700
Club" presented a review/analysis of Pat's predictions for 1995 and
the new ones for 1996.

Sandwiched in between the two, complete with visual aids, was a report
on 50 predictions made by psychics last year in The National
Examiner. How did the psychics do? Michael Jackson's nose did
not collapse in an angry punch and David Letterman did not marry
Madonna! Not a single prediction came to pass! "A big goose egg!"

The Robertson gang was chuckling and carrying on. And I was staring in
disbelief. Are we really supposed to take these people seriously?

Of course, Pat takes his predictions very seriously; they are based
upon days of seclusion and prayer where he gets the word directly from
God. This year, for example, Pat says that our nation is under the
judgment of God especially where abortion is concerned.

"The word I got," he said, "is that if the judges appointed by man
will not deal with those who take innocent human life, then the Lord
is going to enter in and bring justice. And when that happens many of
the innocent will suffer along with the guilty." This does not mean
violence against abortionists, Pat was quick to clarify: "We don't do
things like that. There are natural disasters. They're things that
happen."

What else does Pat predict for 1996?

No stock market crash. "Things will bump along as they have been."
"A great disaster" will take place. A terrorist with a nuclear device?
"I think it's the US but I don't know."

No general revival in the USA, only in the church. America "has
gone too far for the whole nation to turn."

A period of extreme threat from Russia. (Nuclear weapons are still
targeted at the US.)

Past activity in Arkansas by Clinton and his associates do not
bode well for his re-election.

There will be a third party from the Left (Jesse Jackson?).

God will bless CBN tremendously regarding a renewed world
evangelization process. "There are several target countries."

People will pay the price for worshipping false gods, but "God's
going to look after his people."

"The coming of the Lord is very near."

That's the good news.

News? The top portion (20-30 minutes) of "The 700 Club," where
Robertson and his pals began their analysis of 1995/1996, has been
spruced up and is now called "Newswatch Today." This is a thinly
veiled effort to get one million viewers (according to the Christian
Broadcasting Network) to think that they are watching a bona fide news
program. Just to be on the safe side, viewers are often reminded that
the major networks do not tell the truth.

Truth? "Newswatch Today" offers taped reportage and interviews and
then commentary by Pat Robertson interspersed with goofy or loaded
questions from foils Ben and Terry, who barely understand the issues
that they are talking about. Pat, of course, knows everything about
politics, foreign affairs, economics, education, abortion,
homosexuality, crime, drugs, and the weather. The latter topics are
used relentlessly to measure how much man has sinned and how close we
are to "The End."

This so-called "Newswatch Today" is certainly not journalism. It's
just a place where Pat Robertson can promote what he's for and bash
what he's against — his platform, politics, agenda, call it what you
will. Actually they should call this segment "Pat's theories, pet
peeves and grinding axes." His predictions for 1996 are just a
glorified version of all of that, setting the table for more of the
same. Pat wants the American public to buy into — literally and
figuratively! — his own New World Order.

But don't just take my word for it. Watch "The 700 Club"'s "Newswatch
Today" for yourself. Is this news or is it propaganda? Is it a public
service or a disservice to "people of faith." Is it harmless or
dangerous? You decide whether or not the slick presentations of the
Christian Broadcasting Network are for the national good or simply
poisoning the minds of those who think that Pat Robertson speaks for
God.

Here's a prediction from this corner for 1996: Americans in droves
will indeed sit down and watch "The 700 Club," feel shock and
revulsion for what they hear, complain to the CBN, discredit the word
of Pat Robertson, and negate the work of the Christian Coalition.

Don't forget for a moment that Pat Robertson is the founder and
president of that organization. His agenda is behind it; never mind
what Ralph Reed wants us to think. There were no predictions about
cooperation between evangelicals and Catholics — a strategy that is
driving the Christian Coalition these days. Does Pat really care about
the people he speaks to daily? Or is he just using "people of faith"
to fill his coffers, expand his empire and take over the Republican
Party. Yes, you decide. Just don't forget that there are only about
300 days until Election Day. Please.

Paula Xanthopoulou is the editor of "c.c.watch," an electronic news
service dedicated to tracking and reporting the activities of Pat
Robertson, all of his enterprises and his fellow travelers. For more
information, call 800-Watch97. Copyright 1996 Public-Spirited
Enterprises.